Sudan’s RSF Accused of Crimes Against Humanity in El Fasher, Amnesty Reports
Sudan s RSF committed crimes against – Amnesty International has raised serious allegations against the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claiming they committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their offensive to capture El Fasher in the North Darfur region. The organization’s findings, released on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, highlight a pattern of systematic violence against civilians, with attacks involving murder, torture, sexual assault, and enslavement. These actions, according to the report, form part of a coordinated campaign targeting non-Arab communities in the area, amounting to crimes against humanity.
Targeting Civilians and Children
The RSF’s assault on El Fasher, which ended in October 2024, was marked by brutal tactics that left a trail of devastation. Amnesty emphasized that the paramilitary force’s actions were not random but deliberate, with a focus on children. The report details how RSF soldiers often used child captives as a means of psychological warfare, subjecting them to abuse and exploiting them in ways that underscored the severity of the conflict. Survivors interviewed by Amnesty described witnessing young victims being taken from their homes, some of whom were later seen in public as part of the RSF’s propaganda efforts.
“The war in Sudan is a war on civilians. The world was warned of the horrors that civilians in El Fasher confronted as the RSF laid siege to the city.”
Amnesty’s investigation, which included testimonies from 247 individuals, revealed the scale of the atrocities. Among these, 208 were survivors who endured the violence in El Fasher and its surrounding areas. The organization also analyzed documentary evidence, video footage, and satellite imagery to corroborate their claims. Their findings paint a grim picture of the RSF’s operations, showing a consistent strategy of destruction and displacement that has left thousands of families homeless.
Genocide Allegations and Regional Impact
In February 2025, an independent UN fact-finding mission echoed Amnesty’s concerns, describing the RSF’s seizure of El Fasher as “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities. This assessment aligns with the paramilitary force’s destruction of towns and villages in the region, including Abu Zerega, a settlement predominantly inhabited by non-Arab ethnic groups. The systematic targeting of these communities, coupled with the use of derogatory language to dehumanize them, has created an environment where mass killings and forced displacement are not just possible but expected.
The RSF’s control of El Fasher, which was the last stronghold of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the Darfur region, came after an 18-month siege. During this period, the city’s population endured shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, exacerbating the suffering of civilians. The takeover in October 2024 was a decisive moment, but it marked the beginning of a new phase of violence that continues to this day. Amnesty’s report underscores how the RSF’s actions in the months following the capture of El Fasher have intensified, with attacks spreading to nearby areas and causing widespread panic among local residents.
International Calls for Action
Agnès Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, stressed the urgency of the situation in a statement accompanying the report. “The international community must move beyond statements of concern and take concrete steps to protect civilians, breaking the cycle of impunity,” she said. Her remarks highlight the need for immediate intervention to halt the RSF’s ongoing campaigns of violence. The report calls for a ceasefire and the deployment of an international force to safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly in regions where the RSF’s influence has grown.
The RSF’s role in the Sudanese civil war, which began in April 2023, has been central to the conflict’s escalation. The war erupted from a power struggle between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. What started as a military confrontation in Khartoum quickly spiraled into a broader war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced even more. The conflict has taken on ethnic dimensions, with the RSF accused of disproportionately targeting non-Arab groups in North Darfur and other regions.
Amnesty’s report details how the RSF’s operations in El Fasher and its surroundings have left an indelible mark on the local population. The destruction of infrastructure, including homes, schools, and health centers, has crippled the community’s ability to recover. Survivors recount how the RSF used starvation and fear as weapons, forcing civilians into submission or driving them to flee. The organization’s analysis of video evidence shows attacks on hospitals and aid facilities, further demonstrating the RSF’s intent to cripple civilian life.
Commanders Under Scrutiny
The report specifically names three RSF commanders as key figures in the campaign of violence: Maj Gen Gedo Hamdan Ahmed Mohamed, also known as “Abu Shok”; Lt Col Abbas Khater Bakhit; and commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, referred to as “Abu Lulu.” These individuals are said to have orchestrated the attacks that targeted non-Arab civilians, including the use of sexual slavery as a tool of subjugation. Their actions, Amnesty argues, have not only caused immediate suffering but also perpetuated a legacy of injustice and trauma for generations.
Amnesty’s findings are a stark reminder of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. The report estimates that tens of thousands of people have been killed in the RSF’s operations, with countless children left orphaned and hundreds of thousands displaced. The destruction of entire neighborhoods and the systematic removal of civilian populations have created conditions consistent with ethnic cleansing, as defined by international law. This is not merely a war between two military factions but a deliberate effort to erase entire communities from the region’s social fabric.
The RSF’s methods in El Fasher have drawn comparisons to historical cases of genocide, with Amnesty’s report emphasizing the scale and intent behind their actions. The organization’s analysis of satellite imagery from North Darfur shows the extent of the destruction, with roads and buildings reduced to rubble and entire districts abandoned. These images, combined with firsthand accounts from survivors, provide a comprehensive view of the RSF’s impact on the region. The report concludes that the paramilitary force’s conduct between mid-2024 and late 2025 has met the criteria for crimes against humanity, particularly in their use of persecution based on ethnicity.
As the conflict in Sudan enters its third year, the international community faces mounting pressure to act. Amnesty’s report serves as a critical document in the ongoing efforts to hold the RSF accountable for their actions. The organization calls for swift measures to protect civilians, including the establishment of safe zones and the prosecution of those responsible for the atrocities. Without such steps, the cycle of violence and impunity is likely to continue, deepening the crisis in a country already on the brink of collapse.
“The world was warned of the horrors that civilians in El Fasher confronted as the RSF laid siege to the city.”
Amnesty’s findings also highlight the importance of preserving the voices of those who have suffered. The interviews conducted with survivors in El Fasher and surrounding areas have provided invaluable insight into the RSF’s tactics and the lived experiences of the people caught in the crossfire. These accounts, alongside the documentary and video evidence, form the backbone of the report’s allegations. By naming specific commanders and detailing their roles, Amnesty aims to build a case for international justice that can be presented to global courts and institutions.
The RSF’s campaign in El Fasher is emblematic of the broader conflict in Sudan, where ethnic divisions have been exploited to justify violence. The organization’s report underscores the need for a unified response to address the root causes of the conflict, including the RSF’s strategy of targeting non-Arab populations. With the world watching, Amnesty’s allegations may serve as a catalyst for greater awareness and action to end the suffering in the region.
